- 17 June 2025
- Apprentices & Events & Careers &
It's been a busy time for Katie Sime of Reds Hair Company as she completed her hairdressing apprenticeship.
Katie entered the WorldSkills UK competition and competed at the Regional competition in Cardiff in June last year, where she came in joint 1st place. She was then selected as part of the top eight winners in the UK to take part in the WorldSkills UK National Finals in Manchester in November, where she won the Gold medal and was named the best young hairdresser in the UK.
As a result, Katie’s success has led to her being selected to represent Team UK in Hairdressing at EuroSkills Herning 2025 – Europe’s largest skills competition.
EuroSkills Herning will showcase the UK’s technical excellence on the European stage whilst raising standards and inspiring the next generation of skilled professionals.
Katie and other young apprentices and learners will be heading to Herning in Denmark from 8-14 September 2025. She is being trained in skills excellence and world-class standards by WorldSkills UK Chief Expert for the Hairdressing Competition and her employer, Linzi, the Creative Director at Reds Hair Company, as she continues her apprenticeship.
Team UK will compete across a range of disciplines including engineering and manufacturing, and health, hospitality and lifestyle, which includes Health and Social Care, Hairdressing, Cooking and Restaurant Service. Known as the ‘Skills Olympics’, the next WorldSkills main competition takes place in China in 2026.
We asked Katie to tell us a bit more about her journey to date:
Kleek: What initially sparked your interest in hairdressing?
Katie: I came to the salon I work in now for work experience and loved it straight away. This made me interested in taking up a career in hairdressing, and I’m so glad I took up the opportunity.
Kleek: What are you most proud of to date and why?
Katie: I’m so proud of my achievements with WorldSkills. I really pushed myself to do my best and loved the experience. I learnt so much along the way, which has definitely helped build my confidence and skills.
Kleek: What are the best and not so good bits of being an apprentice?
Katie: The best bits are definitely always learning new skills. I am browsing my skill set constantly and this really helps to build confidence. I also enjoy being surrounded by talented stylists who are always happy to help. I don’t really have any bad bits, as I enjoy it all.
Kleek: What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting a Kleek Apprenticeship?
Katie: That they should go for it if they are interested. We get so much support from our trainers and educators, and the community is really supportive.
Kleek: What do you love most about your job?
Katie: The best thing about my job is having so many opportunities to take part in different things and be pushed to be the best you can be. I think this has helped me gain the most from my apprenticeship that I can.
Also, the techniques I’ve learned through competition training have become a core part of what I do at Reds Hair Company. It’s not just about the technical side—my communication and time management have improved massively too, and I truly believe it’s made me a better stylist.
Kleek: What’s next for you, and your career aspirations?
Katie: Euroskills 2025 in Herning! I am training hard to ensure I am prepared and have refined my skills to perform the best I can. I am nervous for this experience as it’s the biggest competition I’ve competed in yet. However, I’m excited to give it my all.
I have also just been selected for a spot on Squad UK, the WorldSkills 2026 training squad, and hope to go on to represent the UK at WorldSkills in Shanghai in September 2026, as this would be an incredible experience.
Thank you, Katie, for sharing more about your recent success. Everyone at Kleek Apprenticeships wishes you the best of luck!
We look forward to following your training and achievements via @WorldSkillsUK.
If you fancy following in Katie's footsteps, find out more about WorldSkills at worldskillsuk.org.uk
